Rack



Jan.'

'L. COHEN RACK ' Filed Aug. 15, 1935 L. COHEN Jan, 5, w37,

` RACK Filed Aug. 15, 1935 2 sheetssneet 2 11145 -the-sockets `and. the brackets.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 RACK Leon Cohen,

Downey, Calif.

Applifmien August 13, 1935, seriarNo. 35,949

Claims.

My-"invention relatesto a rack, built up in units preferably 'for4 holding articles `such as pursespin aclosetor'other place in the home and 'in' vwhich 1 succeeding units may -be attached to 'a 15155panelftoincrease rthe size. Y

Anf-object and feature ofmy invention is the iconstructionbha rack builtiup `of `a series of units; each `unitobeing adapted to support one `or more of thearticles and `in which the units `may "N-betassembled"tofiformiawertical panel, one unit i @being-attached' tol the adjacent'unitand in verftical alignment therewith. By this means the :rack may' bez-extended orreduced in 'size in ac- 4`cordancewith the type and the" number 'of ar- :.ticles to be supported thereon.

. @nnobjectand feature of my invention is formifi-ngeach'unit in themannerl of a flat rectanguflan block or-board, which `may be quitethin in` a fhorizontal'measurement. The blocks may be as 1,220 Msembled in-vertical alignment by providing dowtels onftheuupper edge of ieachblock which fit into dowel sockets on the lower edge of the next eblockabove. `'Iheffadjacent rblocksifare then sel fcuredtogetherfl byf'removable 'staples secured in `2:25A the-vertical Ledge rol-acljacerit` blocks, the staples overlapping horizontal joint between two`l blocks. Another feature of my invention is `employing oafbail'whichmayfbe removablyattached'l to the Pfupperw-block, theends Vof the l bail' being` inserted e30 rin'astaple'receiving-` holes an'd thus the assembly 'i of- .blocks in the panel' maybesuspended from' a wall:or-thelike.'

Another i feature `of i myinventionis providing 1 each 4block vwith'socllzetsg i these being preferably i235: @secured sto the i face oil each f block fand in each V'socket-is' :removably isecured a bracket, these lbrackets beingusedto support the `articles for `idisplay. The-proportion of `theblocks to the particles :isfpreferably such that the uppermost Yi40` -article -obscures =the `projecting dowels on the uppermost'blockandthe bail. -In my invention, :inorder to Ygive a pleasing kappearance `and prontect the farticles 4from wear or rubbing on the irack, 1I apply afcoating-of 'ock to -the blocks,

This ock con- Vsistsfof srnallportions'of cotton, dyed a desired icolor and-b'lownon'thesurfaces to be covered whilev'suchifsurfaces are'wet with sizing 'or the like The `surplus fiockis `removed by brushing y:50 `l`andthusleaving a coating.

`In ra ymodiied 'form of `my invention "I 'form ythe `rackgunitsfof Wire,`con`1bining`ho`oks at the lower-ends of side members which are adapted -to engage transverse rails at the upper end of a :lower :unitl -In Aorder to hold each unit flat against a wall or the like I attach oifset plates to the upper portion of the side bars of a lower unit'which extend upwardly and back of the hooks engaging the side bars of an upper unit.

"Thus when the wire above the hooks is bentv My invention is illustrated in connection with' the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my rack, show- I ing an assembly of the unit blocks to form a panel.

Fig. 2 is' an elevation showing articles supported on the brackets of the rack, such articles being purses.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. V1 in the direction of the arrows. g Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line -Ll of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. v5 is aperspective View of a modified form ofmy construction showing the majorportion of the device formed of wire.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section on the line --B of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

`In my invention I employ a series of unit blocks, each block being designated by the numeral II. These blocks are preferably flat boards, having va front face I2, a rear face I3, a lower edge I4, an upper edge I5 and marginal edges I6 and I'I. The blocks are all preferably the same size and may be comparatively thin in the measurement between the front and the rear face and they are preferably formed rectangular.

In the lower edge I4 of each block there are dowel holes 20, these being preferably two in number, to register with the dowel pins ZI secured to the upper portion of each block and projecting above the upper edge I5 of each block. Each of the marginal edges I6 and I'I of the blocks are provided with staple holes 22, these holes being adjacent the lower edge It and the upper edge I5 of each block so that the prongs 23 of staples 24 may engage in these holes. The staples thus overlap the horizontal joint formed by the contiguous upper edge I5 of one block and the lower edge |4 of the next block above. This causes the assembly of blocks to form a panel designated by the assembly numeral 25. These panels may be suspended by a bail 26, such bail having hook ends 21' engaging in the uppermost staple hole 22 of the uppermost block. The bail may be suspended in any suitable holding device, such as a hook or pin 28 on a wall or the like.

On the outer face |2 of each block I provide sockets 30, these being formed of metal strips 3| having laterally projecting ears 32 through which may be inserted screws 34. Thus the sockets are firmly secured to the face of each block.

In each socket is secured a bracket 40, each bracket having a tongue 4| which is thus held tight against the face |2 of each block and the inside of the strip 3| forming the socket. Such strip if desired may be bent inwardly at the bottom as indicated at 42. The bracket also has a horizontal supporting portion 43, this being formed by a right angular bend 44 from the tongue 4|. A face strip 45 forms a continuation of the tongue and the base 43; the base and the face strip being connected by a curve 46. The upper end of the face strip has a rounded end 41 formed by turning the end 48 downwardly in an open bend.

Two or more brackets are usually suflicient on each block and when the blocks are assembled it leaves a space 49 between the upper portion of the face stripof a lower bracket and the curve 46 of the bracket on the next block above. This space allows insertion of articles such as purses indicated at 50; these purses thus having their lower end rest on the base portions 43 of each bracket and either resting against the face strip or being rmly secured by contact between the upper end of each face strip of a lower bracket and. the bend 46 of the next upper bracket. It will be noted that the uppermost purse extends above the upper dowels 2| and also preferably above the top of the bail 26 so that these latter elements are obscured.

It will be apparent by the above description that the panels may be built up with any desired number of units and thus a large number of articles may be displayed in a satisfactory manner. In order to protect the articles on display from being scufied or becoming shopworn and also in order to give a suitable appearance to the rack, the exposed surfaces of the blocks, the socket structures and the brackets are coated with a size and then flock indicated at 5| is blown on the size to form a coating. This flock is iine cotton linters which may be dyed a suitable color and by adhering to the size forms a protective covering on the portions of the rack contacted by the articles. Surplus flock may be removed by brush- In the modied construction of Figs. 5 through 8, each unit frame 6i! has its main portion formed of wire, of which there is a transverse frame rail 6| at the top, vertical side bars 62 depending from the rail 6| by having a right angular bend 63. At the lower end of the bars there is formed an outwardly bent hook 64, the hook being formed by contiguous parallel sections of wire of which an upward extension forms a tongue 65 for support and connection of the bracket 65. Each bracket has a base wire 61, an upwardly and outwardly sloping face strip e6 joined to 61 by a curve 69. A transverse bracket rail 1i) connects the upper ends of the face strips; the angle 1| between the face strips and the bracket rail being a right angle.

Secured to the upper and rear side of each of the side bars there is an oiset plate 15 having its lower section 16 preferably spot welded to the wire forming the side bar 62. This spot weld may be used to join the two ends of a wire used to make the combination of the frame and the bracket; these ends being attached at the spot weld to the offset plate. The plate has a rearward offset 11 and a vertical flat strip section 18, the upper end of which is provided with an eye 19 to which may be attached for the upper unit a supporting wiring or cord 80 connecting to a pin or hook 8| in a wall or the like.

In the assembly of the different units to form a panel of a number of units, the rail 6| of a lower unit is engaged in the hooks 64 of the unit next above; the hook fitting close to the right angle bend 63. Then the attened. section 18 of the offset plate 15 engages back of the hook of an upper unit as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Articles such as purses may be supported on the brackets, the lower edge of such purses resting on the base wire 61 of the brackets and the upper portion of the purse or other article inclining outwardly and being in part supported by the face strips 68 and the bracket rail 10. There is sufficient space between the bracket rail 1E] of a lower unit and the curved portion 69 of an upper unit to accommodate an article for its insertion and removal and to allow such article if of suiicient size to extend upwardly in front of an upper bracket. On account of the particular type of hook and offset plate connection,Y

the weight of an article on the bracket of a lower unit prevents an outward tilt at the pivoted connection of a lower to an upper unit of the panel. The side bars 62 are retained close to a wall or the like and moreover, these side bars of different units are in substantial vertical alignment.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rack, a frame unit having an upper horizontal rail, parallel depending side bars connected thereto, a bracket attached to the frame having a base wire attached to the lower portion of each side bar and each bracket having an upwardly and outwardly extending face strip and a bracket rail connecting the ends of the face strip, the bracket rail being parallel to the rail of the frame, each of the side bars having a hook at its lower end and a lower unit frame having a top rail and depending side bars and an offset plate connected to the upper portion of each side bar of the lower frame and extending upwardly back of the hook to restrain outward tilt of frame units.

2. A rack comprising an assembly of rack units, each unit having a wire frame with an upper horizontal rail, a depending side bar at each end of the rail, said bars being at right angles to the rail, each bar having an outwardly bent hook at its lower end, a bracket connected to the hook, said bracket having a base connected to each side bar, an outwardly and upwardly extending face strip, the ends of the face strips being connected by a bracket rail, the bracket rail being parallel to the rail of the unit, a lower unit being connected to an upper unit by its rail engaging the hooks of an upper unit, the lower unit having oiset plates secured to the upper ends oi' its side bars. the

olset plates extending upwardly behind the hook of an upper unit to restrain outward tilt of frame units. Y

3. In a rack, a rack unit having a frame with an upper rail, a depending side bar at each end of the frame at right angles thereto, an outwardly bent hook formed by a reverse bend of the lower ends of the side bars, a bracket having a tongue forming part of the hook and parallel to the lower portion of the side bar, an outwardly extending base from each tongue, an upwardly and outwardly extending face strip from each base, a bracket rail connecting the upper ends of the face strips, said rail being parallel to the rail of the frame, an offset plate having a suspension eye secured to the back and upper portion of each side bar extending upwardly above the rail of the'frame, and means to suspend the rack from the offset plates,

y back of the hook to restrain outward tilt of frame units.V

5. In a rack, an upper frame unit having parallel side bars, each with an upturned hook at.

the bottom, a lower frame having a top rail and y depending side bars and an offset plate connected to the upper portion of each side bar of the lower frame, the top rail being suspended by the said hooks, each offset plate extending upwardly back of a hook to restrain outward tilt of the frame units.

LEON COHEN. 

